History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

A NEW MEDICAL COLLEGE 285
hospital. "The plan," wrote Aris's Gazette, Nov. 22, 1825, "has met with the
approbation of Dr Johnstone, Dr Pearson, and other distinguished practitioners."
In 1831 it was enlarged by a museum and library. "... Handsome donations
have been presented already," says the same paper, " by the Earl of Dartmouth,
Viscount Hood, Sir Eardley Wilmot, Sir Astley Cooper, Francis Lawley, James
Taylor, Dr Edward Johnstone, the Low Bailiff, etc." Edward Johnstone was
made President ; his brother John, also a generous donor, Vice-President ; and
Edward Johnstone, jun., of the Inner Temple, was one of two legal advisers.
The Rev. Dr VVarneford gave the Chapel. The first stone of the Queen's
College, into which it developed, was laid, Aug. 18, 1843, by Edward
Johnstone, who, during eighteen years, was never absent from the meetings
of the Council. In 1836 the Council deviated from its course by fixing its
anniversary meeting on his eightieth birthday. He was the first Principal of
the new College, and when he retired in 1845 Lord Lyttelton took his place.
In 1840 Dr Johnstone helped to found the Queen's Hospital in Birmingham,
and was Honorary Physician till his death. He was a great supporter of
the dispensary for supplying medical and surgical attendance on the poor at
their own homes, and though he had long retired from his profession, and took
no fees, his advice was valued and always given gratuitously to rich and poor
—a great boon to those who could not afford to pay for it ; but the last
condition was the rule at that period with physicians, and much later, for there
are no philanthropists superior to those in the medical profession. His son
James, as Honorary Physician to the Birmingham General Hospital for thirty
years, completed a period of 116 years, in which his father, grandfather, uncles,
and himself had given their unpaid services for the good of their fellow-
creatures.
Few men could have had more peaceful declining years than Edward
Johnstone, with a daughter devoted to him and most dutiful sons. Not a day
passed, except Sunday, when he did not drive in his old-fashioned yellow
carriage and pair to his younger son's abode in the Old Square ; and his son's
family spent every Sunday and the summer months at Edgbaston Hall.
When the Laird of Galabank resigned the post of Honorary Physician to
the General Hospital, his nephew, James, was unanimously elected to fill it.
At the age of twenty-eight James was made an F.R.C.P., and later declined an
F.R.S. Like his uncle, John, he was early appointed a Governor of King
Edward's School. His marriage with Maria Mary Payne, eldest daughter of
Joseph Webster of Penns, J. P. for cos. Warwick, Worcester, and Stafford,
took place at Sutton Coldfield Church, Jan. 7, 1834.
The birth of five grandsons, besides grand-daughters, in the grandfather's
lifetime was a cause of great congratulation. The large party entertained at
Edgbaston Hall for the christening of the first grandchild at the old Parish
Church included her mother's parents, Mr and Mrs Webster of Penns, Mrs
Webster's father, Sir Peter Payne, 1 and two of his daughters, many uncles
1 Son-in-law to the Stewards of Winson Green (Chapter XXII.), M.P. for Bedfordshire,
and the author of political pamphlets.